100 Days of May
Educators refer to the 100 days of May, because, well, we can get senioritis, too. But in truth, it is only the end of year paperwork that gets us down. We never tire of the excitement and celebratory moments that always accompany graduation festivities.
Take May 19. for example. In the morning, Sonoma Valley High School hosted its annual Senior Awards Day. This year, students were awarded close to $2M in college scholarships, not only from colleges and universities, but also from local service clubs, youth non-profits, and business sponsors. Reason enough to be walking on air.
Senior Walkabout. But in what I hope will become a new tradition, after the awards ceremony, seniors put on their caps and gowns, boarded school buses, and headed out for “Senior Walkabout.” Inspired by a recent article in the Huffington Post, Sonoma Valley High seniors visited all five elementary schools, Adele Harrison and Altimira Middle Schools, Sonoma Charter and Woodland Star, and Presentation and St. Francis.
At each school site, the seniors, wearing graduation garb, were greeted by students and staff, receiving high fives, applause, musical tributes and much more. Many seniors were able to shake hands with former teachers, many of whom were in tears. All of the seniors were able to enjoy the admiration of the younger students who see high schoolers as the epitome of cool.
Within Our Grasp. Senior Walkabout resulted in fun, photographs and Facebooks posts last week. Beyond that, I hope it will be an important piece in the puzzle for the younger students whose teachers talk to them about the sometimes very abstract concepts of high school graduation, colleges and careers, dreams and aspirations.
We have many students in Sonoma who experience many “firsts” through school field trips. First trip to the Sonoma Coast. First time crossing the Golden Gate Bridge.
Other students have a multitude of opportunities beyond school, and are well-traveled even in elementary school.
But which student will have the farthest distance to travel to wear that cap and gown, the most difficult journey to young adulthood? Time and again, my colleagues and I are surprised to learn which students ultimately experience the most stunning achievements and most the heart-wrenching challenges. This business of growing up is a treacherous one, indeed.
Eyes on the Prize. All of our students can benefit from reminders to keep their eyes on the prize – including the kinders who want to be fire fighters, or the middle schoolers who want fancy red cars. At what point do those dreams morph into new ones that include educational excellence and the willingness to struggle to achieve it? I don’t know.
But I bet that the students who were visited by the Class of 2016 will remember this first Senior Walkabout. Let’s hope that it is on their minds on that day of days in years to come when they put on their own caps and gowns to go on their own Walkabout at schools across the Valley.
